Commercials and Contentment

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more for God and his rule.” 
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are-no more, no less.
That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”
-Matthew 5

We are overwhelmed with deals and opportunities to better ourselves. Brilliant plans to get ahead are shoved onto our social media. Culture is quick to sell us anything that we will buy because we want to be better, smarter, faster, better looking, richer, fuller life, etc., etc., etc. Whether we want, or have a need, these products are shoved into our view, but if we are not careful, they cause a reverse effect. Your life is great until someone points out that it isn’t. You enjoy your house until someone else presents a better or bigger one.

I am reminded of a scene in the garden of Eden. Life existed in a balance of innocence and beauty that no product of culture could ever emulate. Remember, we were created to live in relationship and in unison with our God. There was literally nothing we needed or could want because God provided and tended to all of our cares. We were not perfect, innocent yes, but the relationship was perfect because God was there. Adam and Eve walked through the garden content with their lives, relationship, and situation. Until….

A deceiving serpent pointed out in a commercial that Adam and Eve still lacked something, there was a product that they did not need or even want because there was no need. Yet, they were convinced that their lives were in need and they could, by engaging in this self-help program, be wise just like God. The rest is history.

While we cannot go back to the days of innocence, we can go back to the beauty of that relationship and dependence upon God. Maybe there is something wonderful being at the end of our rope because we are rendered helpless and it allows us to turn to God, building that trust. What would happen if we shut social media, the television, or computer off and let ourselves just be present with our Maker a little more?

This season we light the candle, sing, and dream of peace but do we truly know how to be at peace? It is finding wholeness in the Prince of Peace. As we sit with him the ads, voices, and self-help programs all begin to fade away. This frees us up to be content with who we are and whose we are, creating more space for God. Notice the very first blessing in Jesus’ beatitudes of the Kingdom demonstrate that posture of being at the end of our rope or dependent upon God, while the third describes that contentment is him and who he created you to be reveals humility.

In a season that invokes the beauty and mystery of the incarnation and the necessity of walking the way of Jesus, it sure does clutter our hearts and minds with messages that demonstrate just the opposite. Your loved ones don’t need more stuff, and you don’t need another task on the to-do list to be blessed. You certainly don’t need to read another post or watch another video. The way of the incarnation, the way to overcome all the madness and noise is to settle into a position of contentment in Christ. When those moments arise that you are at the end of your rope, remember what Jesus said, “You are blessed because now you will experience more of him!” Adam and Eve didn’t turn off the commercials and let themselves be persuaded. Let’s take a different route this advent season and find true peace and contentment in Christ.